b'MEMBER PROFILER oofobserverSimoneBallarddidntalwaysplantoinjured, and when I went over to fill in for him for two months, work in the roofing field while she was growing up.Ballard says, he decided he wasnt going to come back. So I was It found me, she laughs. Over a decade ago, Ballardalready in the position, which I still had to compete for, I still and her ex owned a roofing company. But he ranhad to apply for it, and it was just a natural fit because I was that, she says, and I worked in printing. already there doing it.When she had the choice to leave Victoria in order to remainAfterwards, she completed the RCABC Accepted Observer in the printing field, Ballard chose to stay in Victoria. WhileCourse and became an observer.taking time off to decide what to do next, a Top Line RoofingBallards success is largely due to her ability to seek out and superintendents wife approached her. (She) said, hey, yourejump at every opportunity available. Take any courses you can. not working, you know the roofing business, and Top LineThats helped me a lot. Any course that is available to me, I needs a first aid attendant and a safety officer. What do youtake it, she says. When I was at RCABC I did my provincial think about going to work for them? Ballard ended up workinginspectors degree; before I went there I did as much first aid as at Top Line Roofiing Ltd. for five years.I could. I did the level 3 first aid. The guys would take the level While completing a fall protection course, Ballard caught1, because thats all that was required. RCABCs eye. Ballards hard work and ambition come with accolades. In Iimpressedtheheadoftheeducationdepartmentat2016, she won an RCABC Service Award: the Stan Gregorowich RCABC, and he asked me if I would teach safety classes on theAward for Outstanding Support of Education & Training in the Island for them, she says. She later started substitute teachingRoofing Industry.forRCABC,teachingoncallwhilealsoworkingfulltimeBallard taught hundreds of roofing apprentices at RCABC. for Parker Johnston Industries Ltd., a roofing contractor onIt was wonderful, I loved teaching, she says. Vancouver Island. After six years teaching technical training in the Vancouver While working towards her Provincial Instructor Diplomaarea with RCABC, however, Ballard missed living in Victoria. through Vancouver Community College, Ballard applied for aWhensheleftRCABCin2016,theassociationposteda full-time teaching position at RCABC. When that teachingfarewell to Ballard on its website, stating that she had been a position became available, they actually had a teacher that gotterrific asset to the Roof, Damp & Waterproofing program:J. Watson Roofing Consulting Inc. 224 Seafield RoadJ Watson Roofing Consulting Inc.Victoria BC, V9C 1S5 (250) 634-4392 / e-mail: jwatson1@telus.net www.watsonconsulting.ca Integrated roofing & waterproofing envelope solutions for commercial, industrial and institutional clients.Quality consulting and inspection services for both new construction and re-roofing projects. 224SeafieldRoadVictoria,BC|250-391-7887jwatson1@telus.net|www.watsonconsulting.ca604.514.9886 www.advantagegutters.caToll Free: 1.866.257.2888www.rcabc.org l19'